Plants and seeds of canola variety SCV950981

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment, the invention relates to the seeds, plants, and plant parts of canola variety SCV950981 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing canola variety SCV950981 with itself or with another canola variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic canola plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to canola varieties or breeding lines and plant parts derived from canola variety SCV950981, to methods for producing other canola varieties, lines or plant parts derived from canola variety SCV950981 and to the canola plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid canola seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the variety SCV950981 with another canola variety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola variety, designated SCV950981. All publications cited in this application are herein incorporated by reference.

Description of Related Art

Canola, Brassica napus oleifera annua, is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of canola plant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding canola varieties that are agronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are generally to maximize the amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food for both animals and humans. The high quality vegetable oil extracted from canola grain is a primary reason for canola's commercial value. Thus, in addition to high grain yields, increasing the oil content level in the grain can maximize crop value per acre. To accomplish these goals, the canola breeder must select and develop canola plants that have the traits that result in superior varieties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention.

According to the invention, there is provided a new canola variety designated SCV950981. This invention thus relates to the seeds, plants, and/or plant parts of canola variety SCV950981 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing canola variety SCV950981 with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola variety SCV950981.

Thus, any methods using the canola variety SCV950981 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants produced using canola variety SCV950981 as a parent are within the scope of this invention. Advantageously, the canola variety could be used in crosses with other, different, canola plants to produce first generation (F₁) canola hybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for single or multiple gene converted plants of SCV950981. The transferred gene(s) may be a dominant or recessive allele. The transferred gene(s) may confer such traits as herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, male fertility, male sterility, enhanced nutritional quality, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified seed yield, modified oil percent, modified protein percent, modified lodging resistance, modified glucosinolate content, modified chlorophyll content and industrial usage. The gene may be a naturally occurring canola gene or a transgene introduced through genetic engineering techniques.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells for use in tissue culture of canola plant SCV950981. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating plants having all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the foregoing canola plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as the foregoing canola plant. Preferably, the regenerable cells in such tissue cultures will be embryos, protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, pistils, cotyledons, roots, root tips, flowers, seeds, pods or stems. Still further, the present invention provides canola plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of the invention.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of plant breeding wherein the method comprises the steps of a) crossing a plant of canola variety SCV950981 with a second canola plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F₁ progeny plants; b) selecting at least a first progeny plant from step (a) that comprises the desired trait to produce a selected progeny plant; c) crossing the selected progeny plant from step (b) with a plant of canola variety SCV950981 to produce at least a first backcross progeny plant that comprises the desired trait; and d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with the first backcross progeny plant produced from step (c) used in place of the first progeny plant of step (b) during said repeating, wherein steps (b) and (c) are repeated until at least a backcross progeny plant is produced comprising the desired trait. The invention still further provides a soybean plant produced by this and the foregoing methods.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables which follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:

Allele. Allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene which relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Alter. The utilization of up-regulation, down-regulation, or gene silencing.

Anther arrangement. The orientation of the anthers in fully opened flowers can also be useful as an identifying trait. This can range from introse (facing inward toward pistil), erect (neither inward not outward), or extrose (facing outward away from pistil). Anther dotting. The presence/absence of anther dotting (colored spots on the tips of anthers) and if present, the percentage of anther dotting on the tips of anthers in newly opened flowers is also a distinguishing trait for varieties. Anther fertility. This is a measure of the amount of pollen produced on the anthers of a flower. It can range from sterile (such as in female parents used for hybrid seed production) to fertile (all anthers shedding). Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a first generation hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotypes of the F₁ hybrid. Blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans). Virulent or severe blackleg of canola/rapeseed is a fungal canker or dry rot disease of the actively growing crop that causes stem girdling and lodging. In heavily infested crops, up to 100 percent of the stems may be infected, resulting in major yield loss. For purposes of this application, resistance to blackleg is measured using ratings of “R” (resistant), “MR” (medium resistant), “MS” (moderately susceptible) or “S” (susceptible). Cell. Cell as used herein includes a plant cell, whether isolated, in tissue culture or incorporated in a plant or plant part. Cotyledon width. The cotyledons are leaf structures that form in the developing seeds of canola which make up the majority of the mature seed of these species. When the seed germinates, the cotyledons are pushed out of the soil by the growing hypocotyls (segment of the seedling stem below the cotyledons and above the root) and they unfold as the first photosynthetic leafs of the plant. The width of the cotyledons varies by variety and can be classified as narrow, medium, or wide. Elite canola line or variety. A canola line or variety, per se, which has been sold commercially. Elite canola parent line or variety. A canola line or variety which is a parent of a canola hybrid which has been commercially sold. Embryo. The embryo is the small plant contained within a mature seed. Essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics. The characteristics of a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in the same environment, other than occasional variant traits that might arise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene. FAME analysis. Fatty Acid Methyl Ester analysis is a method that allows for accurate quantification of the fatty acids that make up complex lipid classes. Flower bud location. The location of the unopened flower buds relative to the adjacent opened flowers is useful in distinguishing between the canola species. The unopened buds are held above the most recently opened flowers in B. napus and they are positioned below the most recently opened flower buds in B. rapa. Flowering date. This is measured by the number of days from planting to the stage when 50% of the plants in a population have one or more open flowers. This varies from variety to variety. Fusarium Wilt. Fusarium wilt, largely caused by Fusarium oxysporum, is a disease of canola that causes part or all of a plant to wilt, reducing yield by up to 30% or more on badly affected fields. For purposes of this application, resistance to Fusarium wilt is measured using ratings of “R” (resistant), “MR” (medium resistant), “MS” (moderately susceptible) or “S” (susceptible). Gene silencing. Gene silencing means the interruption or suppression of the expression of a gene at the level of transcription or translation. Genotype. Refers to the genetic constitution of a cell or organism. Glucosinolates. These are measured in micromoles (μm) of total alipathic glucosinolates per gram of air-dried oil-free meal. The level of glucosinolates is somewhat influenced by the sulfur fertility of the soil, but is also controlled by the genetic makeup of each variety and thus can be useful in characterizing varieties. Growth habit. At the end of flowering, the angle relative to the ground surface of the outermost fully expanded leaf petioles is a variety specific trait. This trait can range from erect (very upright along the stem) to prostrate (almost horizontal and parallel with the ground surface). Leaf attachment to the stem. This trait is especially useful for distinguishing between the two canola species. The base of the leaf blade of the upper stem leaves of B. rapa completely clasp the stem whereas those of the B. napus only partially clasp the stem. Those of the mustard species do not clasp the stem at all. Leaf blade color. The color of the leaf blades is variety specific and can range from light to medium dark green to blue green. Leaf development of lobes. The leaves on the upper portion of the stem can show varying degrees of development of lobes which are disconnected from one another along the petiole of the leaf. The degree of lobing is variety specific and can range from absent (no lobes)/weak through very strong (abundant lobes). Leaf glaucosity. This refers to the waxiness of the leaves and is characteristic of specific varieties although environment can have some effect on the degree of waxiness. This trait can range from absent (no waxiness)/weak through very strong. The degree of waxiness can be best determined by rubbing the leaf surface and noting the degree of wax present. Leaf indentation of margin. The leaves on the upper portion of the stem can also show varying degrees of serration along the leaf margins. The degree of serration or indentation of the leaf margins can vary from absent (smooth margin)/weak to strong (heavy saw-tooth like margin). Leaf pubescence. The leaf pubescence is the degree of hairiness of the leaf surface and is especially useful for distinguishing between the canola species. There are two main classes of pubescence which are glabrous (smooth/not hairy) and pubescent (hairy) which mainly differentiate between the B. napus and B. rapa species, respectively. Leaf surface. The leaf surface can also be used to distinguish between varieties. The surface can be smooth or rugose (lumpy) with varying degrees between the two extremes. Linkage. Refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if their transmission was independent. Linkage disequilibrium. Refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles tend to remain together in linkage groups when segregating from parents to offspring, with a greater frequency than expected from their individual frequencies. Locus. A locus confers one or more traits such as, for example, male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified phytic acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism. The trait may be, for example, conferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of the variety by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetic transformation techniques. A locus may comprise one or more alleles integrated at a single chromosomal location. Lodging resistance. Lodging is rated on a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 1 indicates erect plants. A score of 5 indicates plants are lying on the ground Maturity. The maturity of a variety is measured as the number of days between planting and physiological maturity. This is useful trait in distinguishing varieties relative to one another. Oil content. This is measured as percent of the whole dried seed and is characteristic of different varieties. It can be determined using various analytical techniques such as NMR, NIR, and Soxhlet extraction. Percent linolenic acid. Percent oil of the seed that is linolenic acid. Percent oleic acid (OLE). Percent oil of the seed that is oleic acid. Percentage of total fatty acids. This is determined by extracting a sample of oil from seed, producing the methyl esters of fatty acids present in that oil sample and analyzing the proportions of the various fatty acids in the sample using gas chromatography. The fatty acid composition can also be a distinguishing characteristic of a variety. Petal color. The petal color on the first day a flower opens can be a distinguishing characteristic for a variety. It can be white, varying shades of yellow or orange. Plant. As used herein, the term “plant” includes reference to an immature or mature whole plant, including a plant from which seed or grain or anthers have been removed. Seed or embryo that will produce the plant is also considered to be the plant. Plant height. This is the height of the plant at the end of flowering if the floral branches are extended upright (i.e., not lodged). This varies from variety to variety and although it can be influenced by environment, relative comparisons between varieties grown side by side are useful for variety identification. Plant parts. As used herein, the term “plant parts” (or a canola plant, or a part thereof) includes protoplasts, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, seed, grain, embryo, pollen, ovules, cotyledon, hypocotyl, pod, flower, shoot, tissue, petiole, cells, meristematic cells and the like. Protein content. This is measured as percent of whole dried seed and is characteristic of different varieties. This can be determined using various analytical techniques such as NIR and Kjeldahl. Quantitative trait loci (QTL). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed. Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture. Resistance to lodging. This measures the ability of a variety to stand up in the field under high yield conditions and severe environmental factors. A variety can have good (remains upright), fair, or poor (falls over) resistance to lodging. The degree of resistance to lodging is not expressed under all conditions but is most meaningful when there is some degree of lodging in a field trial. Seed coat color. The color of the seed coat can be variety specific and can range from black through brown through yellow. Color can also be mixed for some varieties. Seed coat mucilage. This is useful for differentiating between the two species of canola with B. rapa varieties having mucilage present in their seed coats whereas B. napus varieties do not have this present. It is detected by imbibing seeds with water and monitoring the mucilage that is exuded by the seed. Seedling growth habit. The rosette consists of the first 2-8 true leaves and a variety can be characterized as having a strong rosette (closely packed leaves) or a weak rosette (loosely arranged leaves). Silique (pod) habit. This is also a trait which is variety specific and is a measure of the orientation of the pods along the racemes (flowering stems). This trait can range from erect (pods angled close to racemes) through horizontal (pods perpendicular to racemes) through arching (pods show distinct arching habit). Silique (pod) length of beak. The beak is the segment at the end of the pod which does not contain seed (it is a remnant of the stigma and style for the flower). The length of the beak can be variety specific and can range form short through medium through long. Silique (pod) length of pedicel. The pedicel is the stem that attaches the pod to the raceme of flowering shoot. The length of the pedicel can be variety specific and can vary from short through medium through long. Silique (pod) length. This is the length of the fully developed pods and can range from short to medium to long. It is best used by making comparisons relative to reference varieties. Silique (pod) type. This is typically a bilateral single pod for both species of canola and is not really useful for variety identification within these species. Silique (pod) width. This is the width of the fully developed pods and can range from narrow to medium to wide. It is best used by making comparisons relative to reference varieties. Single locus converted (conversion). Single locus converted (conversion) plant refers to plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, or via genetic engineering, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique or via genetic engineering. Stem intensity of anthocyanin coloration. The stems and other organs of canola plants can have varying degrees of purple coloration which is due to the presence of anthocyanin (purple) pigments. The degree of coloration is somewhat subject to growing conditions, but varieties typically show varying degrees of coloration ranging from: absent (no purple)/very weak to very strong (deep purple coloration). Total saturated (TOTSAT). Total percent oil of the seed of the saturated fats in the oil including C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C20:0, C22:0 and C24.0.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Spring canola variety SCV950981 is a Roundup Ready™ (RT73 transgene) INRA Ogura cytoplasmic male sterile line (commonly referred to as the “A-Line”) used in making spring canola hybrids. It is maintained by the genetic line SCV517092 (referred to as the “B-Line”). Both were developed by crossing SCV157972 by SCV275625 (both proprietary spring canola inbred lines of Monsanto Technology, LLC) and following pedigree breeding methodology. At the F₄ generation, the B line was crossed onto a SCV275625 A line plant (acting as a source of the Ogura cytoplasm). Every subsequent generation of B line selfing, it was also backcrossed into the Ogura cytoplasm until selection at the F₁₂ and MSC7 generation for the B and A line respectively. Some of the criteria used for selection in various generations include: standability, disease tolerance, good podding, high combining ability for yield, moderate oil content and very low total saturated fats.

Canola line SCV950981 is stable and uniform and no off-type plants have been exhibited in evaluation. The line has shown uniformity and stability, as described in the following variety description information. It has been backcrossed a sufficient number of generations with careful attention to uniformity of plant type. The line has been increased with continued observation for uniformity.

Canola variety SCV950981 has the following morphological and other characteristics:

TABLE 1 Phenotypic Description of Variety SCV950981 No. of Environments SCV950981 SCV275625 SCV595906 Measured Plant Characteristics Days to 50% Flowering 47.0 46.5 48.3 2 Maturity 100 97 99 2 Herbicide Resistance Roundup Ready Roundup Ready Roundup Ready 2 Disease Resistance Blackleg MR MR MR 3 Clubroot S S S 2 Seed Characteristics Seed Coat Color Black 2 Seed Weight (g/1,000 3.8 2 seeds) % Oil Content 45.00 48.09 46.68 2 % Protein Content (as a 50.44 48.99 49.39 2 % of the oil-free meal) Glucosinolates Content 11.30 12.21 11.16 2 (micromoles/gram defatted meal) Erucic Acid Content 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 Public or Commercial Designations Used for the Original Parent Lines:

SCV275625 is the female parent of 73-15 RR, 73-45 RR, 73-55 RR, 73-65 RR, 74-44 BL and other hybrids.

Related Art:

Canola line SCV950981 is not a parent of any other canola line commercialized at the time of the patent filing for SCV950981.

This invention is also directed to methods for producing a canola plant by crossing a first parent canola plant with a second parent canola plant, wherein the first or second canola plant is the canola plant from the variety SCV950981. Further, both first and second parent canola plants may be from the variety SCV950981. Therefore, any methods using the variety SCV950981 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid breeding, and crosses to populations. Any plants produced using variety SCV950981 as a parent are within the scope of this invention.

Additional methods include, but are not limited to, expression vectors introduced into plant tissues using a direct gene transfer method such as microprojectile-mediated delivery, DNA injection, electroporation, and the like. More preferably, expression vectors may be introduced into plant tissues by using either microprojectile-mediated delivery with a ballistic device or by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transformant plants obtained with the protoplasm of the invention are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

The advent of new molecular biological techniques has allowed the isolation and characterization of genetic elements with specific functions, such as encoding specific protein products. Scientists in the field of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and express foreign genetic elements, or additional, or modified versions of native or endogenous genetic elements in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Any DNA sequences, whether from a different species or from the same species which are inserted into the genome using transformation, are referred to herein collectively as “transgenes.” In some embodiments of the invention, a transgenic variant of SCV950981 may contain at least one transgene but could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and/or no more than 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2. Over the last fifteen to twenty years, several methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed, and the present invention also relates to transgenic variants of the claimed canola variety SCV950981.

One embodiment of the invention is a process for producing canola variety SCV950981 further comprising a desired trait, said process comprising transforming a canola plant of variety SCV950981 with a transgene that confers a desired trait. Another embodiment is the product produced by this process. In one embodiment the desired trait may be one or more of herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, modified seed yield, modified oil percent, modified protein percent, modified lodging resistance or modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism. The specific gene may be any known in the art or listed herein, including; a polynucleotide conferring resistance to imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, triazine, hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor, protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor and benzonitrile; a polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding phytase, FAD-2, FAD-3, galactinol synthase or a raffinose synthetic enzyme; or a polynucleotide conferring resistance to blackleg, white rust or other common canola diseases.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols, all of which may be used with this invention. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available and may be used in conjunction with the invention.

In an embodiment, a genetic trait which has been engineered into the genome of a particular canola plant may be moved into the genome of another variety using traditional breeding techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach may be used to move a transgene from a transformed canola variety into an already developed canola variety, and the resulting backcross conversion plant would then comprise the transgene(s).

In embodiments, various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome using transformation. These elements include any known in the art, specifically including, but not limited to genes, coding sequences, inducible, constitutive, and tissue specific promoters, enhancing sequences, and signal and targeting sequences.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vector which will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNA comprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain one or more of such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. The vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or in combination with other plasmids, to provide transformed canola plants, using transformation methods as described below to incorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the canola plant(s).

Expression Vectors for Canola Transformation: Marker Genes

Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker operably linked to a regulatory element (a promoter, for example) that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in the transformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene which, when under the control of plant regulatory signals, confers resistance to kanamycin. Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin.

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase and the bleomycin resistance determinant. Other selectable marker genes confer resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or bromoxynil. Selectable marker genes for plant transformation not of bacterial origin include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plant acetolactate synthase.

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requires screening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS), β-galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Any of the above, or other marker genes, may be utilized in the present invention.

In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not require destruction of plant tissue are available and can be used in embodiments of the invention. Additionally, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) can be utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. GFP and mutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.

Expression Vectors for Canola Transformation: Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter. Several types of promoters are well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”. Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissues are referred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may effect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters—An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in canola. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in canola. With an inducible promoter the rate of transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. Exemplary inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, those from the ACEI system which respond to copper, the In2 gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners, or the Tet repressor from Tn10. A particularly preferred inducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is the inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone.

B. Constitutive Promoters—A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in canola or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in canola.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV and the promoters from such genes as rice actin, ubiquitin, pEMU, MAS, and maize H3 histone. The ALS promoter, Xba1/Nco1 fragment 5′ to the Brassica napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to said Xba1/Nco1 fragment) could also be utilized herein.

C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-preferred Promoters—A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in canola. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in canola. Plants transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter produce the protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter such as that from the phaseolin gene, a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such as that from cab or rubisco, an anther-specific promoter such as that from LAT52, a pollen-specific promoter such as that from Zm13, or a microspore-preferred promoter such as that from apg.

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondrion or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized. The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art and can be utilized in the present invention.

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, are within the scope of the invention. In an embodiment, a foreign protein then can be extracted from a tissue of interest or from the total biomass by known methods.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is a canola plant. In another preferred embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional RFLP, PCR and SSR analysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule. Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses are made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques. SNPs may also be used alone or in combination with other techniques.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Through the transformation of canola, the expression of genes can be altered to enhance disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance, agronomic, grain quality and other traits. Transformation can also be used to insert DNA sequences which control, or help control, male-sterility. DNA sequences native to canola, as well as non-native DNA sequences, can be transformed into canola and used to alter levels of native or non-native proteins. Various promoters, targeting sequences, enhancing sequences, and other DNA sequences can be inserted into the genome for the purpose of altering the expression of proteins. Reduction of the activity of specific genes (also known as gene silencing, or gene suppression) is desirable for several aspects of genetic engineering in plants.

Many techniques for gene silencing are well known to one of skill in the art, including but not limited to knock-outs (such as by insertion of a transposable element such as Mu or other genetic elements such as a FRT, Lox or other site specific integration site), antisense technology, co-suppression, RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing, target-RNA-specific ribozymes, hairpin structures, MicroRNA, ribozymes, oligonucleotide-mediated targeted modification, Zn-finger targeted molecules, and other methods or combinations of the above methods known to those of skill in the art.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

1. Genes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

A. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defences are often activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with cloned resistance genes to engineer plants that are resistant to specific pathogen strains.

B. A gene conferring resistance to fungal pathogens, such as oxalate oxidase or oxalate decarboxylase.

C. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof, or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon, for example, a Bt δ-endotoxin gene.

D. A lectin.

E. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin or a homolog.

F. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor.

G. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid or juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof.

H. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest.

I. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc.

J. An enzyme responsible for a hyperaccumulation of a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

K. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic.

L. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction.

M. A hydrophobic moment peptide.

N. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker.

O. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease development effected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruses. Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus.

P. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom. An antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect.

Q. A virus-specific antibody.

R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-α-1, 4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall homo-α-1, 4-D-galacturonase.

S. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant.

T. Genes involved in the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) Response and/or the pathogenesis-related genes.

U. Antifungal genes.

V. Detoxification genes, such as for fumonisin, beauvericin, moniliformin and zearalenone and their structurally related derivatives.

W. Cystatin and cysteine proteinase inhibitors.

X. Defensin genes.

Y. Genes that confer resistance to Phytophthora root rot, such as the Brassica equivalents of the Rps 1, Rps 1-a, Rps 1-b, Rps 1-c, Rps 1-d, Rps 1-e, Rps 1-k, Rps 2, Rps 3-a, Rps 3-b, Rps 3-c, Rps 4, Rps 5, Rps 6, Rps 7 and other Rps genes.

2. Genes that Confer Resistance to an Herbicide, for Example:

A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea.

B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) and aroA genes, respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces hygroscopicus PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexanediones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). Glyphosate resistance is also imparted to plants that express a gene that encodes a glyphosate oxido-reductase enzyme. In addition glyphosate resistance can be imparted to plants by the over expression of genes encoding glyphosate N-acetyltransferase. Nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin are known and can be used herein. The nucleotide sequence of a PAT gene is also known and can be used. Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexanediones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and Acc1-S3 genes.

C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). The transformation of Chlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes are known and can be used.

D. Acetohydroxy acid synthase, which has been found to make plants that express this enzyme resistant to multiple types of herbicides. Other genes that confer tolerance to herbicides include a gene encoding a chimeric protein of rat cytochrome P4507A1 and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, genes for glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, and genes for various phosphotransferases.

E. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox), which is necessary for the production of chlorophyll. The protox enzyme serves as the target for a variety of herbicidal compounds. These herbicides also inhibit growth of all the different species of plants present, causing their total destruction.

3. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

A. Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforming a plant with an antisense gene of stearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant.

B. Decreased phytate content. Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene, such as Aspergillus niger phytase gene, may enhance breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformed plant. Alternatively, a gene could be introduced that reduces phytate content. In maize for example, this could be accomplished by cloning and then reintroducing DNA associated with the single allele which is responsible for maize mutants characterized by low levels of phytic acid.

C. Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, by transforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters the branching pattern of starch, or, a gene altering thioredoxin such as NTR and/or TRX and/or a gamma zein knock out or mutant such as cs27 or TUSC27 or en27. Any known fatty acid modification genes may also be used to affect starch content and/or composition through the interrelationship of the starch and oil pathways.

D. Elevated oleic acid via FAD-2 gene modification and/or decreased linolenic acid via FAD-3 gene modification.

E. Altering conjugated linolenic or linoleic acid content. Altering LEC1, AGP, Dek1, Superal1, mi1ps, various Ipa genes such as Ipa1, Ipa3, hpt or hggt.

F. Altered antioxidant content or composition, such as alteration of tocopherol or tocotrienols. In an embodiment, antioxidant levels may be manipulated through alteration of a phytl prenyl transferase (ppt) or through alteration of a homogentisate geranyl geranyl transferase (hggt).

G. Altered essential seed amino acids.

4. Genes that Control Male Sterility

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterility available and within the scope of the invention. As one example, nuclear male sterility may be accomplished by identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility, silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility, removing the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter, inserting this genetically engineered gene back into the plant, and thus creating a plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not “on,” resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning “on”, the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed. Other possible examples include the introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of a tapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemical N—Ac-PPT, the introduction of various stamen-specific promoters, or the introduction of the barnase and the barstar genes.

5. Genes that Create a Site for Site Specific DNA Integration.

This may include the introduction of FRT sites that may be used in the FLP/FRT system and/or Lox sites that may be used in the Cre/Loxp system. Other systems that may be used include the Gin recombinase of phage Mu, the Pin recombinase of E. coli, and the R/RS system of the pSR1 plasmid.

6. Genes that Affect Abiotic Stress Resistance (Including but not Limited to Flowering, Pod and Seed Development, Enhancement of Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency, Altered Nitrogen Responsiveness, Drought Resistance or Tolerance, Cold Resistance or Tolerance, and Salt Resistance or Tolerance) and Increased Yield Under Stress.

Genes and transcription factors that affect plant growth and agronomic traits such as yield, flowering, plant growth and/or plant structure, can be introduced or introgressed into plants.

Methods for Canola Transformation

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available.

A. Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation—One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer can be used in the present invention.

B. Direct Gene Transfer—Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A generally applicable method of plant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a ballistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes. Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication of target cells, which may be used herein. Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion may be used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine may also be useful. Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues may also be utilized.

Following transformation of canola target tissues, expression of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used for producing a transgenic variety. The transgenic variety could then be crossed with another (non-transformed or transformed) variety in order to produce a new transgenic variety. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into a particular canola variety using the foregoing transformation techniques could be moved into another variety using traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite variety into an elite variety, or from a variety containing a foreign gene in its genome into a variety or varieties which do not contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

Genetic Marker Profile Through SSR and First Generation Progeny

In addition to phenotypic observations, a plant can also be identified by its genotype. The genotype of a plant can be characterized through a genetic marker profile which can identify plants of the same variety or a related variety or be used to determine or validate a pedigree. Genetic marker profiles can be obtained by techniques such as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Particular markers used for these purposes are not limited to any particular set of markers, but are envisioned to include any type of marker and marker profile which provides a means of distinguishing varieties. One method of comparison is to use only homozygous loci for SCV950981.

In addition to being used for identification of canola variety SCV950981 and plant parts and plant cells of variety SCV950981, the genetic profile may be used to identify a canola plant produced through the use of SCV950981 or to verify a pedigree for progeny plants produced through the use of SCV950981. The genetic marker profile is also useful in breeding and developing backcross conversions.

The present invention comprises a canola plant characterized by molecular and physiological data obtained from the representative sample of said variety deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Further provided by the invention is a canola plant formed by the combination of the disclosed canola plant or plant cell with another canola plant or cell and comprising the homozygous alleles of the variety.

Means of performing genetic marker profiles using SSR polymorphisms are well known in the art. SSRs are genetic markers based on polymorphisms in repeated nucleotide sequences, such as microsatellites. A marker system based on SSRs can be highly informative in linkage analysis relative to other marker systems in that multiple alleles may be present. Another advantage of this type of marker is that, through use of flanking primers, detection of SSRs can be achieved, for example, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thereby eliminating the need for labor-intensive Southern hybridization. The PCR detection is done by use of two oligonucleotide primers flanking the polymorphic segment of repetitive DNA. Repeated cycles of heat denaturation of the DNA followed by annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences at low temperatures, and extension of the annealed primers with DNA polymerase, comprise the major part of the methodology.

Following amplification, markers can be scored by electrophoresis of the amplification products. Scoring of marker genotype is based on the size of the amplified fragment, which may be measured by the number of base pairs of the fragment. While variation in the primer used or in laboratory procedures can affect the reported fragment size, relative values should remain constant regardless of the specific primer or laboratory used. When comparing varieties it is preferable if all SSR profiles are performed in the same lab.

The SSR profile of canola plant SCV950981 can be used to identify plants comprising SCV950981 as a parent, since such plants will comprise the same homozygous alleles as SCV950981. Because the canola variety is essentially homozygous at all relevant loci, most loci should have only one type of allele present. In contrast, a genetic marker profile of an F₁ progeny should be the sum of those parents, e.g., if one parent was homozygous for allele x at a particular locus, and the other parent homozygous for allele y at that locus, then the F₁ progeny will be xy (heterozygous) at that locus. Subsequent generations of progeny produced by selection and breeding are expected to be of genotype x (homozygous), y (homozygous), or xy (heterozygous) for that locus position. When the F₁ plant is selfed or sibbed for successive filial generations, the locus should be either x or y for that position.

In addition, plants and plant parts substantially benefiting from the use of SCV950981 in their development, such as SCV950981 comprising a backcross conversion, transgene, or genetic sterility factor, may be identified by having a molecular marker profile with a high percent identity to SCV950981. Such a percent identity might be 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% identical to SCV950981.

The SSR profile of SCV950981 also can be used to identify essentially derived varieties and other progeny varieties developed from the use of SCV950981, as well as cells and other plant parts thereof. Progeny plants and plant parts produced using SCV950981 may be identified by having a molecular marker profile of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% genetic contribution from canola variety, as measured by either percent identity or percent similarity. Such progeny may be further characterized as being within a pedigree distance of SCV950981, such as within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or less cross-pollinations to a canola plant other than SCV950981 or a plant that has SCV950981 as a progenitor. Unique molecular profiles may be identified with other molecular tools such as SNPs and RFLPs.

While determining the SSR genetic marker profile of the plants described supra, several unique SSR profiles may also be identified which did not appear in either parent of such plant. Such unique SSR profiles may arise during the breeding process from recombination or mutation. A combination of several unique alleles provides a means of identifying a plant variety, an F₁ progeny produced from such variety, and progeny produced from such variety.

Single-Gene Conversions

When the term “canola plant” is used in the context of the present invention, this also includes any single gene conversions of that variety. The term single gene converted plant as used herein refers to those canola plants which are developed by backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the variety. A hybrid progeny may be backcrossed to the recurrent parent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more times as part of this invention. The parental canola plant that contributes the gene for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental canola plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol. In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a canola plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original variety. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent variety is modified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the morphological and physiological, constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the major purposes is to add some agronomically important trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new variety but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not be transgenic; examples of these traits include but are not limited to, male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through the nucleus.

Introduction of a New Trait or Locus into SCV950981

Variety SCV950981 represents a new base genetic variety into which a new locus or trait may be introgressed. Direct transformation and backcrossing represent two methods that can be used to accomplish such an introgression. The term backcross conversion and single locus conversion are used interchangeably to designate the product of a backcrossing program.

Backcross Conversions of SCV950981

A backcross conversion of SCV950981 may occur when DNA sequences are introduced through backcrossing with SCV950981 utilized as the recurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNA sequences may be introduced through backcrossing techniques. Molecular marker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce the number of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type of trait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes as vs. unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, the type of inheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear) and the types of parents included in the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that for single gene traits that are relatively easy to classify, the backcross method is effective and relatively easy to manage. Desired traits that may be transferred through backcross conversion include, but are not limited to, sterility (nuclear and cytoplasmic), fertility restoration, nutritional enhancements, drought tolerance, nitrogen utilization, altered fatty acid profile, altered seed amino acid levels, altered seed oil levels, low phytate, industrial enhancements, disease resistance (bacterial, fungal or viral), insect resistance and herbicide resistance. In addition, an introgression site itself, such as an FRT site, Lox site or other site specific integration site, may be inserted by backcrossing and utilized for direct insertion of one or more genes of interest into a specific plant variety. A single locus may contain several transgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, in the same expression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide resistance. The gene for herbicide resistance may be used as a selectable marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site specific integration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at the converted loci.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele. Transgenes transferred via backcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and are relatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing the first backcross generation to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successive backcross generations to determine the presence of the locus of interest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although a backcross conversion with a stably introgressed trait may also be maintained by further backcrossing to the recurrent parent with selection for the converted trait.

Along with selection for the trait of interest, progeny are selected for the phenotype of the recurrent parent. The backcross is a form of inbreeding, and the features of the recurrent parent are automatically recovered after successive backcrosses. As noted above, the number of backcrosses necessary can be reduced with the use of molecular markers. Other factors, such as a genetically similar donor parent, may also reduce the number of backcrosses necessary. As noted, backcrossing is easiest for simply inherited, dominant and easily recognized traits.

One process for adding or modifying a trait or locus in canola variety SCV950981 comprises crossing plants of canola variety SCV950981 grown from canola variety SCV950981 seed with plants of another canola variety that comprise the desired trait or locus, selecting F₁ progeny plants that comprise the desired trait or locus to produce selected F₁ progeny plants, crossing the selected progeny plants with plants of canola variety SCV950981 to produce backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait or locus; and backcrossing to SCV950981 three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise said trait or locus. The modified SCV950981 may be further characterized as having essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of canola variety SCV950981 listed in Table 1 and/or may be characterized by percent similarity or identity to SCV950981 as determined by SSR markers. The above method may be utilized with fewer backcrosses in appropriate situations, such as when the donor parent is highly related or markers are used in the selection step. Desired traits that may be used include those nucleic acids known in the art, some of which are listed herein, that will affect traits through nucleic acid expression or inhibition. Desired loci include the introgression of FRT, Lox and other sites for site specific integration, which may also affect a desired trait if a functional nucleic acid is inserted at the integration site.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes described herein may be used to produce first generation progeny canola seed by adding a step at the end of the process that comprises crossing SCV950981 with the introgressed trait or locus with a different canola plant and harvesting the resultant first generation progeny canola seed.

Tissue Culture of Canola

Further production of the SCV950981 variety can occur by tissue culture and regeneration. Culture of various tissues of canola and regeneration of plants therefrom is known and widely published. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce canola plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of canola variety SCV950981.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, seeds, pods, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils and the like. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. Tissue culture comprising organs can be used in the present invention to produce regenerated plants.

Using SCV950981 to Develop Other Canola Varieties

Canola varieties such as SCV950981 are typically developed for use in seed and grain production. However, canola varieties such as SCV950981 also provide a source of breeding material that may be used to develop new canola varieties. Plant breeding techniques known in the art and used in a canola plant breeding program include, but are not limited to, recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection, mass selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, open pollination breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, making double haploids, and transformation. Often combinations of these techniques are used. The development of canola varieties in a plant breeding program requires, in general, the development and evaluation of homozygous varieties.

Additional Breeding Methods

This invention is directed to methods for producing a canola plant by crossing a first parent canola plant with a second parent canola plant wherein either the first or second parent canola plant is variety SCV950981. The other parent may be any other canola plant, such as a canola plant that is part of a synthetic or natural population. Any such methods using canola variety SCV950981 are part of this invention: selfing, sibbing, backcrosses, mass selection, pedigree breeding, bulk selection, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. These methods are well known in the art and some of the more commonly used breeding methods are described below.

The following describes breeding methods that may be used with canola variety SCV950981 in the development of further canola plants. One such embodiment is a method for developing a variety SCV950981 progeny canola plant in a canola plant breeding program comprising: obtaining the canola plant, or a part thereof, of variety SCV950981 utilizing said plant or plant part as a source of breeding material and selecting a canola variety SCV950981 progeny plant with molecular markers in common with variety SCV950981 and/or with morphological and/or physiological characteristics selected from the characteristics listed in Table 1. Breeding steps that may be used in the canola plant breeding program include pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding, and recurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such as RFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (for example SSR markers) and the making of double haploids may be utilized.

Another method involves producing a population of canola variety SCV950981 progeny canola plants, comprising crossing variety SCV950981 with another canola plant, thereby producing a population of canola plants, which, on average, derive 50% of their alleles from canola variety SCV950981. A plant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbed with a canola variety resulting from these successive filial generations. One embodiment of this invention is the canola variety produced by this method and that has obtained at least 50% of its alleles from canola variety SCV950981.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how to evaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is no significant difference between the two traits expressed by those varieties. Thus the invention includes canola variety SCV950981 progeny canola plants comprising a combination of at least two variety SCV950981 traits selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table 1 or the variety SCV950981 combination of traits listed in the Summary of the Invention, so that said progeny canola plant is not significantly different for said traits than canola variety SCV950981 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. Using techniques described herein, molecular markers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a canola variety SCV950981 progeny plant. Mean trait values may be used to determine whether trait differences are significant, and preferably the traits are measured on plants grown under the same environmental conditions. Once such a variety is developed its value is substantial since it is important to advance the germplasm base as a whole in order to maintain or improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, pest resistance, and plant performance in extreme environmental conditions.

Progeny of canola variety SCV950981 may also be characterized through their filial relationship with canola variety SCV950981, as for example, being within a certain number of breeding crosses of canola variety SCV950981. A breeding cross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into the progeny, and is distinguished from a cross, such as a self or a sib cross, made to select among existing genetic alleles. The lower the number of breeding crosses in the pedigree, the closer the relationship between canola variety SCV950981 and its progeny. For example, progeny produced by the methods described herein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 breeding crosses of canola variety SCV950981.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which canola plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, pods, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, cotyledons, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, stems, pistils, petiole, and the like.

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such as SCV950981 and another canola variety having one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking or which complements SCV950981. If the two original parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive filial generations. In the succeeding filial generations the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous varieties as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding, five or more successive filial generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F₁ to F₂; F₂ to F₃; F₃ to F₄; F₄ to F₅, etc. After a sufficient amount of inbreeding, successive filial generations will serve to increase seed of the developed variety. Preferably, the developed variety comprises homozygous alleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

In addition to being used to create a backcross conversion, backcrossing can also be used in combination with pedigree breeding. As discussed previously, backcrossing can be used to transfer one or more specifically desirable traits from one variety, the donor parent, to a developed variety called the recurrent parent, which has overall good agronomic characteristics yet lacks that desirable trait or traits. However, the same procedure can be used to move the progeny toward the genotype of the recurrent parent but at the same time retain many components of the non-recurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at an early stage and proceeding with selfing and selection. For example, a canola variety may be crossed with another variety to produce a first generation progeny plant. The first generation progeny plant may then be backcrossed to one of its parent varieties to create a BC1 or BC2. Progeny are selfed and selected so that the newly developed variety has many of the attributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of the desired attributes of the non-recurrent parent. This approach leverages the value and strengths of the recurrent parent for use in new canola varieties.

Therefore, an embodiment of this invention is a method of making a backcross conversion of canola variety SCV950981, comprising the steps of crossing a plant of canola variety SCV950981 with a donor plant comprising a desired trait, selecting an F₁ progeny plant comprising the desired trait, and backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny plant to a plant of canola variety SCV950981. This method may further comprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of canola variety SCV950981 and using the molecular marker profile to select for a progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of SCV950981. In one embodiment the desired trait is a mutant gene or transgene present in the donor parent.

Recurrent Selection and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program to improve a population of plants. SCV950981 is suitable for use in a recurrent selection program. The method entails individual plants cross pollinating with each other to form progeny. The progeny are grown and the superior progeny selected by any number of selection methods, which include individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sib progeny and selfed progeny. The selected progeny are cross pollinated with each other to form progeny for another population. This population is planted and again superior plants are selected to cross pollinate with each other. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and therefore can be repeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrent selection is to improve the traits of a population. The improved population can then be used as a source of breeding material to obtain new varieties for commercial or breeding use, including the production of a synthetic variety. A synthetic variety is the resultant progeny formed by the intercrossing of several selected varieties.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction with molecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection seeds from individuals are selected based on phenotype or genotype. These selected seeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation. Bulk selection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot, allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk and then using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the next generation. Also, instead of self pollination, directed pollination could be used as part of the breeding program.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits into canola variety SCV950981. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificially induced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by many different means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions, radiation; such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g. cobalt 60 or cesium 137), neutrons, (product of nuclear fission by uranium 235 in an atomic reactor), Beta radiation (emitted from radioisotopes such as phosphorus 32 or carbon 14), or ultraviolet radiation (preferably from 2500 to 2900 nm), or chemical mutagens (such as base analogues (5-bromo-uracil), related compounds (8-ethoxy caffeine), antibiotics (streptonigrin), alkylating agents (sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid, or acridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditional breeding techniques. In addition, mutations created in other canola plants may be used to produce a backcross conversion of canola variety SCV950981 that comprises such mutation.

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Molecular markers, which include markers identified through the use of techniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), may be used in plant breeding methods utilizing canola variety SCV950981. One use of molecular markers is Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping. QTL mapping is the use of markers, which are known to be closely linked to alleles that have measurable effects on a quantitative trait. Selection in the breeding process is based upon the accumulation of markers linked to the positive effecting alleles and/or the elimination of the markers linked to the negative effecting alleles from the plant's genome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for the selection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked to alleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles of interest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles of interest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also be used to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against the genome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amount of genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. It can also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrent parent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers in the selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection. Molecular markers may also be used to identify and exclude certain sources of germplasm as parental varieties or ancestors of a plant by providing a means of tracking genetic profiles through crosses.

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the development of plants with a homozygous phenotype in the breeding program. For example, a canola plant for which canola variety SCV950981 is a parent can be used to produce double haploid plants. Double haploids are produced by the doubling of a set of chromosomes (1 N) from a heterozygous plant to produce a completely homozygous individual. This can be advantageous because the process omits the generations of selfing needed to obtain a homozygous plant from a heterozygous source.

Haploid induction systems have been developed for various plants to produce haploid tissues, plants and seeds. Thus, an embodiment of this invention is a process for making a substantially homozygous SCV950981 progeny plant by producing or obtaining a seed from the cross of SCV950981 and another canola plant and applying double haploid methods to the F₁ seed or F₁ plant or to any successive filial generation. Based on studies in maize and currently being conducted in canola, such methods would decrease the number of generations required to produce a variety with similar genetics or characteristics to SCV950981.

In particular, a process of making seed retaining the molecular marker profile of canola variety SCV950981 is contemplated, such process comprising obtaining or producing F₁ seed for which canola variety SCV950981 is a parent, inducing doubled haploids to create progeny without the occurrence of meiotic segregation, obtaining the molecular marker profile of canola variety SCV950981, and selecting progeny that retain the molecular marker profile of SCV950981.

A pollination control system and effective transfer of pollen from one parent to the other offers improved plant breeding and an effective method for producing hybrid canola seed and plants. For example, the ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (cms) system, developed via protoplast fusion between radish (Raphanus sativus) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most frequently used methods of hybrid production. It provides stable expression of the male sterility trait and an effective nuclear restorer gene.

In developing improved new Brassica hybrid varieties, breeders use self-incompatible (SI), cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and nuclear male sterile (NMS) Brassica plants as the female parent. In using these plants, breeders are attempting to improve the efficiency of seed production and the quality of the F₁ hybrids and to reduce the breeding costs. When hybridization is conducted without using SI, CMS or NMS plants, it is more difficult to obtain and isolate the desired traits in the progeny (F₁ generation) because the parents are capable of undergoing both cross-pollination and self-pollination. If one of the parents is a SI, CMS or NMS plant that is incapable of producing pollen, only cross pollination will occur. By eliminating the pollen of one parental variety in a cross, a plant breeder is assured of obtaining hybrid seed of uniform quality, provided that the parents are of uniform quality and the breeder conducts a single cross.

In one instance, production of F₁ hybrids includes crossing a CMS Brassica female parent, with a pollen producing male Brassica parent. To reproduce effectively, however, the male parent of the F₁ hybrid must have a fertility restorer gene (Rf gene). The presence of an Rf gene means that the F₁ generation will not be completely or partially sterile, so that either self-pollination or cross pollination may occur. Self pollination of the F₁ generation to produce several subsequent generations is important to ensure that a desired trait is heritable and stable and that a new variety has been isolated.

An example of a Brassica plant which is cytoplasmic male sterile and used for breeding is ogura (OGU) cytoplasmic male sterile. A fertility restorer for ogura cytoplasmic male sterile plants has been transferred from Raphanus sativus (radish) to Brassica. The restorer gene is Rf1, originating from radish. Improved versions of this restorer have been developed as well. Other sources and refinements of CMS sterility in canola include the Polima cytoplasmic male sterile plant.

Further, as a result of the advances in sterility systems, varieties are developed that can be used as an open pollinated line (i.e. a pure line sold to the grower for planting) and/or as a sterile inbred (female) used in the production of F₁ hybrid seed. In the latter case, favorable combining ability with a restorer (male) would be desirable. The resulting hybrid seed would then be sold to the grower for planting.

The development of a canola hybrid in a canola plant breeding program involves three steps: (1) the selection of plants from various germplasm pools for initial breeding crosses; (2) the selfing of the selected plants from the breeding crosses for several generations to produce a series of inbred lines, which, although different from each other, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbred lines with different inbred lines to produce the hybrids. During the inbreeding process in canola, the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor is restored when two different inbred lines are crossed to produce the hybrid. An important consequence of the homozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between a defined pair of inbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give a superior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents is maintained.

Combining ability of a line, as well as the performance of the line per se, is a factor in the selection of improved canola varieties that may be used as inbreds. Combining ability refers to a line's contribution as a parent when crossed with other lines to form hybrids. The hybrids formed for the purpose of selecting superior lines are designated test crosses. One way of measuring combining ability is by using breeding values. Breeding values are based on the overall mean of a number of test crosses. This mean is then adjusted to remove environmental effects and is adjusted for known genetic relationships among the lines.

Hybrid seed production requires inactivation of pollen produced by the female parent. Incomplete inactivation of the pollen provides the potential for self-pollination. This inadvertently self-pollinated seed may be unintentionally harvested and packaged with hybrid seed. Similarly, because the male parent is grown next to the female parent in the field, there is also the potential that the male selfed seed could be unintentionally harvested and packaged with the hybrid seed. Once the seed from the hybrid bag is planted, it is possible to identify and select these self-pollinated plants. These self-pollinated plants will be genetically equivalent to one of the inbred lines used to produce the hybrid. Though the possibility of inbreds being included in hybrid seed bags exists, the occurrence is rare because much care is taken to avoid such inclusions. These self-pollinated plants can be identified and selected by one skilled in the art, either through visual or molecular methods.

Brassica napus canola plants, absent the use of sterility systems, are recognized to commonly be self-fertile with approximately 70 to 90 percent of the seed normally forming as the result of self-pollination. The percentage of cross pollination may be further enhanced when populations of recognized insect pollinators at a given growing site are greater. Thus open pollination is often used in commercial canola production.

INDUSTRIAL USES

Currently Brassica napus canola is recognized as an increasingly important oilseed crop and a source of meal in many parts of the world. The oil as removed from the seeds commonly contains a lesser concentration of endogenously formed saturated fatty acids than other vegetable oils and is well suited for use in the production of salad oil or other food products or in cooking or frying applications. The oil also finds utility in industrial applications. Additionally, the meal component of the seeds can be used as a nutritious protein concentrate for livestock.

Canola oil has the lowest level of saturated fatty acids of all vegetable oils. “Canola” refers to rapeseed (Brassica) which has a erucic acid (C_(22:1)) content of at most 2 percent by weight based on the total fatty acid content of a seed, and which produces, after crushing, an air-dried meal containing less than 30 micromoles (μmol) per gram of defatted (oil-free) meal. These types of rapeseed are distinguished by their edibility in comparison to more traditional varieties of the species.

Canola variety SCV950981 can be used in the production of an edible vegetable oil or other food products in accordance with known techniques. The solid meal component derived from seeds can be used as a nutritious livestock feed. Parts of the plant not used for human or animal food can be used for biofuel.

Tables

In Table 2, selected oil quality characteristics of the seed of canola variety SCV950981 are compared with oil quality characteristics of the same two canola varieties referenced in Table 1. The data in Table 2 includes results on seed samples collected from two testing locations and are presented as averages of the values observed. Column 1 shows the variety, column 2 shows the percent saturated fatty acid content, column 3 shows the percent oleic acid content, column 4 shows the percent linoleic content and column 5 shows the percent linolenic content. Characteristics of a hybrid containing SCV950981 as a parent compared to two commercial varieties are set forth in Table 3.

TABLE 2 Oil Quality Characteristics of SCV950981 Compared to Two Proprietary Canola varieties 1 2 3 4 5 Variety % Sat. Fat. Acid % Oleic Acid % Linoleic % Linolenic SCV950981 6.26 68.47 16.62 6.26 SCV275625 6.98 63.79 18.69 8.60 SCV595906 7.13 64.71 18.17 7.89

TABLE 3 Characteristics of Hybrid G32176, Containing SCV950981, Compared to Two Commercial Varieties* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 Yield Lodging DMat Sats Height Gluc Oil Prot BL FW CR Variety % 1 = best Days % cm μm/g % % rating rating rating 45H29  97.3% 3.5 99 6.75 108 11.8 49.8 41.5 R R R 5440 102.7% 1.7 100 6.57 112 10.0 47.4 41.6 R R S Avg of 100.0% 2.6 99 6.66 110 10.9 48.6 41.5 Checks Hybrid  97.5% 3.3 99 6.67 99 7.4 48.9 44.0 R R R G32176

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the canola variety SCV950981, which is disclosed herein above and referenced in the claims, was made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit was Oct. 5, 2015, and the accession number for those deposited seeds of canola variety SCV950981 is ATCC Accession No. PTA-122553. All restrictions upon the deposit have been removed, and the deposit is intended to meet all of the requirements of the Budapest Treaty and 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of canola variety SCV950981, representative sample of seed of which was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122553.
 2. A canola plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. A tissue culture produced from protoplasts or cells from the plant of claim 2, wherein said cells or protoplasts of the tissue culture are produced from a plant part selected from the group consisting of leaf, pollen, embryo, cotyledon, hypocotyl, meristematic cell, root, root tip, anther, pistil, flower, shoot, stem, petiole, and pod.
 4. A canola plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 3, wherein the plant comprises all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of canola variety SCV950981.
 5. A composition comprising a seed or plant part of canola variety SCV950981, and a cultivation medium, wherein a representative sample of seed of canola variety SCV950981 was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122553.
 6. The seed or plant part of claim 5, wherein the cultivation medium is soil or a synthetic medium.
 7. A canola seed produced by crossing two canola plants and harvesting the resultant canola seed, wherein at least one canola plant is the canola plant of claim
 2. 8. A canola plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing said seed of claim
 7. 9. A method of producing a male sterile canola plant wherein the method comprises crossing the canola plant of claim 2 with a male sterile canola plant and harvesting the resultant seed.
 10. A male sterile canola plant produced by transforming the canola plant of claim 2 with a nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility.
 11. An herbicide resistant canola plant produced by introducing into the canola plant of claim 2 a transgene that confers herbicide resistance to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D, dicamba, L-phosphinothricin, triazine, hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor, protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, phenoxy propionic acid, cyclohexanedione, and benzonitrile.
 12. An insect or pest resistant canola plant produced by introducing a transgene that confers insect or pest resistance into the canola plant of claim
 2. 13. The canola plant of claim 12, wherein the transgene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 14. A disease resistant canola plant produced by introducing a transgene that confers disease resistance into the canola plant of claim
 2. 15. A canola plant having modified fatty acid metabolism or modified carbohydrate metabolism produced by introducing into the canola plant of claim 2 a transgene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, α-amylase, invertase, and starch branching enzyme, or encoding an antisense nucleic acid of a stearyl-ACP desaturase gene.
 16. A method of producing an industrial plant product comprising collecting the commodity plant product from the seed of claim
 1. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the industrial plant product is selected from the group consisting of canola meal, livestock feed, protein concentrate, unblended canola oil, salad oil, cooking oil, frying oil, vegetable oil, a blended oil, and biofuel.
 18. A method of plant breeding, said method comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a plant of canola variety SCV950981 with a second canola plant that comprises a single locus conversion to produce F1 progeny plants, wherein a representative sample of seed of canola variety SCV950981 having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122553; (b) selecting at least a first progeny plant from step (a) that comprises the single locus conversion to produce a selected progeny plant; (c) crossing the selected progeny plant from step (b) with a plant of canola variety SCV950981 to produce at least a first backcross progeny plant that comprises the single locus conversion; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) with the first backcross progeny plant produced from step (c) used in place of the first progeny plant of step (b) during said repeating, wherein steps (b) and (c) are repeated until at least a backcross progeny plant is produced comprising the single locus conversion.
 19. A plant of canola variety SCV950981 further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein a representative sample of seed of canola variety SCV950981 has been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122553.
 20. The canola plant of claim 19, wherein the single locus conversion confers herbicide resistance and the resistance is conferred to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D, dicamba, L-phosphinothricin, triazine, hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor, protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, phenoxy propionic acid, cyclohexanedione and benzonitrile.
 21. The canola plant of claim 19, wherein the single locus conversion confers insect resistance and the insect resistance is conferred by a transgene encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 22. The canola plant of claim 19, wherein the single locus conversion confers modified fatty acid metabolism or modified carbohydrate metabolism and said single locus conversion is conferred by a nucleic acid encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of phytase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, α-amylase, invertase, and starch branching enzyme, or encoding an antisense nucleic acid of a stearyl-ACP desaturase gene. 